The Dillon tribune., 1887-12-02
AN OLD THiEF'S COMPLAINT,

Nothing but >tag1'ation in tho Burglars
Business Circlcs-Dctcctivc system.
''Hello, Bill!'
The person addressed turned quickly
around with Il determined expression ON
his face, as if expecting to have a tussle
With some one, and q good nnturcd smile
passed over the col,ntenalcc of Bill Noble
the western bank burglar. when he recog-
nized friend Mr.. Noble is ut one Of the
Broadway hotels. but his name does not
appear on the registry book
'HOW's business. Hill?' queried Il re-
porter.
''There is nothing Int light game in the
market now" answered the bank cOnfis-
Gator. ''Yon can lay Odds my boy. that
it will be many |: day before q big lob is
worked up in this or amy ether city crack
ing safes. There is just as much money
locked mp in safes every night as there
ever was, but it is " hundred times harder
20 get ut than 1t was ten or twenty years
ay" When Il watchn",. was left in charge
Of u bahk it was all right: but now even I,
small amount OF treasure is guarded by
asystem of signals so perfect that it places
half dozen men on watch, and it is too
big risk to try and beat them As far
west as you can go, and I've covered every
foot of the ground, no chances are taken,
and you're dead sure to toss up your life
or twenty years of it, if yO,, attempt to
get in your fine work.
''Are the safes made today harder to
open than when burglary was Il paving
prOfessiOn:'
certainly. But there is not a safe
made that cannot bc beat Time is all
that is necessary. The tools to do the
work can he readily obtained. The bank
sneak has taken the place Of the experts.
and even they arc starving to death. All
the good men are doing their bit now
and 1t s only little while since was do.
ing mine. The old men in the business
can never make another deal The COPS
arc on to them all the time. They are
tracked everywhere. I left Chicago IL
week ago. The police here knew I Was
on tne way before the train was out of the
depot, and they have been on to me every
moment since | arrived They know
where l go and what l do about as we'll
as l do myself, and if l. ,!tln'; walk u
stralsht line Ia get the collar in Il second
I'm DONG straight business now and have
no 1ear ] used to get pretty hot when
la run into fellow who was piping me,
but I've got used to it now and feel more
amused than mad. I have IL little uuict
run leading the boys on a goose chase once
in while. The efforts Of the police are
ulrecleu 10 prevent thieves who are known
from organizing. This is the best way to
prevent crime, as crooks cannot work
alone on decent job. The detectives
nave IL system by which the daily record
OF al! we'll known crooks is kept all over
the country, and the heavy hand of the
law can hc put on Il man ut any time
rms Is harder to buck against than all tho
locks and combinations ever matle.''
Would yon kill man while at work
who tried to arrest you:''
'Certainly, ii | got the ,lrop on him.
It's part Of the trade. Usually the officer
mas the advantage. because burglars are
surprised ut work and there is no chance
10 shoot. y man must fight for his lib.
erty, even at the risk of stretching his
neck
Did yon lay up any money while in
the business:''
Not II dollar Flush to-day and broke
tomorrow is the rule. Crooks live good
while the dust lasts, bur they blow every
thing IN. Every crook has his failing.
It's either wine, women or gambling
Gambling and drinking are all right, but
steer clear Of women. They are the de-
iectlves right bower. Many Il good man
has been sent away by Il woman's tongue
either from malice or stupidity. They
give clues. and the detectives Get tho
glory and the prisoner. New York Even
ing Sun.